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“STAND FIRM THUS IN THE LORD”

Philippians 3:17-4:1



Recently, the President of the United States signed into law a bill known as the Federal Hate Crime Act. This bill outlaws any kind of hate speech against any person, as pertaining, for example, to their “sexual orientation,” or “gender identity;” meaning, any kind of sexual preference or alternative lifestyle that you can imagine is protected under this law. As a result, there has been a great deal of discussion about the ramifications of the bill in regard to the church. Would it now be a crime for a church to label such behavior as a sinful?

Needless to say, it is becoming increasingly difficult in this day and age, to be able to voice a traditional Christian viewpoint without feeling alienated or ridiculed… or, perhaps, even prosecuted. There was a time not that long ago—probably within your parent’s or grandparent’s generation—when certain behaviors which were contrary to the teachings of the Bible were labeled as such. They were sinful. But, these days, no one wants to go out on a limb and claim that anything is immoral; for, in doing so, you might just be stepping on the toes of the person next to you.

Consequently, for some, Christianity has been reduced to a matter of religious and social tolerance. They think that being a Christian simply means being accepting of all people’s behavior. The more embracing you can be, the more you are reflecting the love of Christ.

But even Jesus warned that to love father, mother, son, or daughter more than we love Him is to be unworthy of Him. And then the Lord added, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” (Matt. 10:37,38). Notice how Christ centers love for Him in terms of the cross? For us, the cross is a matter of self-denial; of setting aside our own personal desires and will in favor of God’s desire and will for us. For Jesus, the cross is the consequence He had to endure as the punishment for all of our sins.

So, if Jesus died to deliver us from our sins, can we possibly consider it a loving thing to tolerate or even advocate the sinful behavior of others?

What we are witnessing in this prevailing, permissive attitude of our culture is the fulfillment of Christ’s warnings concerning the end times. He said that, in the last days, “because lawlessness will be increased, (lawlessness—meaning the dismissing of the Ten Commandments) “because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold,” (Matt. 24:12). And it’s not simply love for their fellowman that will grow cold; most significantly, love for God will grow cold.

And so we hear St. Paul say in today’s text, “I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, [that many] walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Now, usually, when we think about those who are enemies of the cross, we think about those who violently persecute Christians all over the world. And, most certainly, such people are enemies of the cross. But, in a community like ours, where, thank God, Christians are not being rounded up and executed for beliefs, as has happened in other parts of the world, we still have to deal with those who are enemies of the cross whenever you encounter someone who refuses to call sin a ‘sin’.

Because, remember what the cross is all about. It is about Jesus dying for all of our transgressions; including those transgressions which are constantly glorified in the media. But, since there is nothing new under the sun, the words which St. Paul spoke 2000 years ago still apply today. For those who revel in their immorality and boast about their indiscretions, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

You, however, are to be different. For the Christian, sin is something to be confessed, not flaunted. Immorality is to be shunned, not envied. What is considered to be open-minded should be exposed for what it is, and not defended as someone’s personal right.

For, though you live in this world, you are not part of the world. Rather, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is nothing to be embarrassed about admitting that we need a Savior—and not simply a savior from the social injustices and inequalities of this world—but a Savior died to forgive us of our sin, our own sin, our most grievous sin.

Such an admission is not a popular stance to take; not only in relation to others but also in regard to our own secret sins. If God’s Law hits a raw nerve in our lives, if the Holy Spirit continues to pick away at our consciences, it is only natural that we react with the same kind of irritation and denial as was demonstrated by the people in the Old Testament reading today who bristled at Jeremiah’s words of judgment upon them.

But how perilous a situation it would be if we joined the ranks of those who refuse to mark our own guilt. Then we would end up becoming enemies of the cross as well. And when we are wrestling with the guilt of our sin, the absolute worst thing we can do is to look at what the rest of the world is doing in an attempt to justify our own behavior.

Listen again to the words of St. Paul: “Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Yes, there really is something to be learned from those people of long ago in Bible times, and even from those faithful Christians of recent memory. In the midst of the ever-changing ethics today’s world, there is something very simple, moral, and reassuring about those who judged everything by what is taught in the Scriptures. It is the anchor which holds us firm in God’s righteousness. It is the compass that always points out the right direction to take.

Most importantly, the Word of God always leads us back to our Savior Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood to deliver us from the condemnation of our sin, and blessed us with His Spirit. There is no crime in striving to live as righteous people. And as long as we remain firm in that Spirit until the end, our faith will be proven right. And what an incredible day of vindication it will be when He, “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”





Jeremiah 26:8–15

8When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. 10When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the LORD. 11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” 12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”



Philippians 3:17—4:1

17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 4:1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.



Luke 13:31–35

31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus], “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”